[C320-list] cabin top hood

[kspir4 at cox.net]

Chris B and Jon V,
thanks...very helpful.
The sliding hatch is definitely hanging up on the doors (I can tell since it is starting to leave marks on the aluminum fittings that sit on top of Zarcor doors).
I finally got through to Warren at Catalina.  They confirmed what you said Jon:  there is no gasket.  He said Catalina puts down a "generous bead of sealant and ensure they do NOT tighten the screws all the way down."  He said, if the marina did not put sealant underneath and or did over tighten the screws, it could lower the tracks by 1/8" (which is exactly the amount of room I think I need).
I also got through the marina who said they were going to back off the screws a bit.  I'll drive to the boat (75 mi) and check the impact by the end of the week and report back.  If that doesn't work, I'll try your (Chris) suggestion (shims).
thanks again,
Ken

---- Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com> wrote: 
> Now I am confused.
> 
> As I recall, the sea hood does not come back much further than the
> mainsheet traveler. There are two plates that cover the hatch rails on each
> side. That said, there should be enough play to freely lift the hatch over
> the top of the doors and if not, you may need to simply shim the aft ends
> of the covers. However, before you do that, I recommend that you remove the
> doors and try the hatch to determine if they are hanging on them in fact if
> you haven't already done so.
> 
> Our hatch operated exactly as you describe even with the hatch boards out
> and for no cause that I could discern. Which is why I don't know why the
> SailKote cured the problem.
> 
> CB
> 
> Chris Burti
> Farmville, NC
> 
> 
> On Mon, Aug 1, 2016 at 12:40 PM, <kspir4 at cox.net> wrote:
> 
> > Thanks Chris but I'm fairly certain the problem is not with the friction
> > around the rails/sides of the hatch.  It is definitely from the slight lip
> > on the aft end of sliding hatch hanging over the hatch doors.  I have to
> > bang it to get it up and over.  Once the lip is up and over, the hatch
> > movement is fine.  As on Commitment, there is no way my Admiral will be
> > able to hit it hard enough to lift it up and over the doors.  It's too bad
> > since I installed those Zarcor doors to a perfect fit where that lip keeps
> > any blowing rain out.
> > I'm also trying to get through to Catalina to see if they can shed light
> > on the construction (did they insert a gasket like material that causes the
> > hood to sit slightly higher?).
> > All I need is ~ 1/8 higher.  I'd hate to start shaving the sliding hatch
> > to make this work right.
> > thanks
> > Ken
> >
> >
> > ---- Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > On Commitment, #867 the sea hood is clearly calked and we had the
> > identical
> > > problem... so bad that the Admiral couldn't budge the hatch cover.
> > > Since I had replaced the tape on the slide already and it appeared to be
> > in
> > > good shape, I decided to spray SailKote on the tape which completely
> > > resolved the issue and it will now start and slide with the pressure of a
> > > single finger. I really can't explain why it works so well, but the
> > Admiral
> > > is much happier.
> > >
> > > CB
> > >
> > > Chris Burti
> > > Farmville, NC
> > >
> > >
> > > On Mon, Aug 1, 2016 at 10:53 AM, <kspir4 at cox.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Ahoy mates,
> > > > I recently had a leak in the cabin and located the entry point by
> > spraying
> > > > water on various outside sections of the cabin top.  It turns out that
> > the
> > > > source was caused by water entering around the hood that covers the
> > sliding
> > > > companionway hatch (not an isolated incident according to our great
> > > > website).  I was going to be out of town for a few weeks so I hired my
> > > > marina repairmen from the well known marina in Solomons to take the
> > hood
> > > > off and make the necessary repairs while I was gone.  In doing the
> > work,
> > > > they said they saw and filled some extra screw holes that were made
> > but not
> > > > used and filled a channel that was collecting water.  The problem I am
> > now
> > > > having is that it is extremely hard to move the sliding hatch off of
> > the
> > > > companionway doors when starting from a fully closed position.  It
> > slides
> > > > fine when I get it off the doors but to get it off the doors I have to
> > > > pound it laterally multiple times with the heel of my hand using all
> > of my
> > > > 200+ pounds.
> > > > Before the work was done, it appeared that there was some type of
> > gasket
> > > > under the hood (between the hood and the cabin top).  That may have
> > held
> > > > the hood up higher and, if not replaced, is the cause of the sliding
> > hatch
> > > > to hang up on the doors.  I cannot tell if the gasket is there since
> > the
> > > > marina then put caulking around the hood (obscuring the area where the
> > > > gasket is/was).
> > > > I have asked the marina supervisor to investigate but, in the
> > meantime, I
> > > > thought I'd present two questions to my fellow 320ers:
> > > > 1.  Can anyone verify that there was a gasket type material between the
> > > > hood and the cabin top and, if so, does anyone know where to get a
> > > > replacement?
> > > > 2.  Did the marina commit a faux pas by putting caulking around the
> > hood?
> > > > I figure if Catalina didn't have it there originally, it shouldn't be
> > > > needed and will hinder future access.
> > > > Clearly, I am relearning the adage that "If you want something done
> > right,
> > > > do it yourself".
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Ken
> > > > MoonDancer
> > > > 2006  #1089
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> >